Rail tie and fastener.



' A. N. SHEPLER.

RAIL TIE AND FASTENER. A'PPucAnow FILED JULY 8, 1915.

191M319 Patented 001;. 26, 1915.

\U Witnesses Inventor,

ALBERT 1v. SHEPLER, or PERU, INDIA-NA.

RAIL TIE AND i ,liivt'mil 9.

Specification of Letters Patent.

1 rat-eaten Get. so, rare.

Application filed July 8, 1 915. Serial No. 38,704. Y

To alt IIILOm it may concern.

Be it known that I, ALBERT: N. SI-IFLPLER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Peru, in thecounty of Miami and State of Indiana, have invented a new and useful Rail Tie and Fastener, of which the following is a specification. v

The present invention appertains to railroad cross ties, and aims to provide a metallic railroad tie provided with unique means for fastening the rails thereon, the present tie being comparatively simple, and inexpensive, and being much more durable than the ordinary wooden tie.

ith the foregoing-and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the com bination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter de' scribed and. claimed, it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of the invention herein disclosed can be made within the scope of what is claimed, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, wherein I Figure 1 is a perspective view of the improved structure. Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmenta]. view illustrating a pair of the rail fastening members in position to hold the rail upon the tie.v Fig. 3 is a vview similar to Fig. 2, illustrating the rail fastoning members released and therail removed.

In carrvin out the invention there is rovided a channel-shaped metallic tie 1 which may be laid upon the, roadbed in the manner of an ordinary wooden tie, and which may be filled with rock or other ballast .for holding it firmly in place. The rails 2 are-supported upon the upstanding flanges of the tie 1.

I Each flange of the tieis provided with means for holding each rail thereon, and to this end, two pairs of plates or bars 3, form} ing the'rail holding members; are carried by l ates 3v of the each flange of the tie. Th opposite flanges of the tidarefiisposed opposite to one an0ther,'and the plates'of each pair are arranged at oppositesides of the respective rail. "Bolts -or cross rods 4 are. engaged through the'flanges of the tie 1 ad-.

acent the upper edges" of said flanges and adjacent the opposite sides of the. respective rails and the rods serve to pivot the :other retaining elements 3 to the flanges of the tie. The rods 4 pivot the plates 3 to the tie adjacent those'ends of the plates 3 nearest the rails, and said ends of the plates 3 are provided with; re cesses or cut away portions 5 for accommodating the base flanges of therails. Said recesses 5 provide the oblique edges-6, and pro ecting. fingers 7, the edges 6 being adapted to bear against the edges of the base flanges of the rails forholding the rails in proper position, while the fingers 7 are arr nged to bear upon the' base flanges for holding the rails upon the tie.

When the plates 3 are released, as seen'in Fig. 3 they swing to pendant or vertical positions, with the fingers 7 projecting upwardly to readily receive the rails therebetween, and the, railsyin being seated upon flanges for clamping the base flanges uponfli the tie. Then, when the plates 3 are swungproperlyto clamp the rails in place, bolts or 8 are engaged through "suitable apertures plates 3 and flanges of the tie.- The-bolts 8;.

are arranged adjacent those ends ofthe plates 3 opposite the fingers 7, whereby the 90 bolts 8 being engaged through the-longfarms v I levers 3 will e flective ly'ho'ld the fingers 7 tightly upon the base-flanges of 7 T the rails. The fingers 7 areic'arriedfby thef! short armsof the plates or. levers 3, and-the; l

of the plates or plates are preferably disposedu'pon the-i e: ner sides of the flanges offglzthe tier -'The"' I plates 3 are inclined or divergedownwardly,. 2 in'Which position the plates will eflectively hold the rails. .When the plates 3f-are in depending position, the oblique-edges 6 w'ill be.

swung above the flanges of'the; tie; so as toconverge downwardly t aid d tie flanges, whereby the base flange of the rail in seating upon the edges 6 will swing th'e'long arms of the plates 3 apart, to start I the upward. movement" thereof.

When the bolts B-areremOVed, the rails;

plates 55 I Providedinthe I i can be readilydetaohed from the tie, since the plates 3 will swing downwardly to release the rails.

pair of rods engaged through the flanges thereof adjacent the'upper edges thereof, twopairs of plates pivoted upon said rods adjacent the flanges and having short and long arms, the short arms having recesses to -accomm0date the base flange of a rail and v providing oblique edges adapted to swing swung downwardly and also adapted to above said tie flanges when the long arms engage the edges of-the base flange of the tail when the long arms are swung upwardly, said recess also providing fingers to bear upon the base flanges, and means for individually securing said long arms to the tie flanges when the long arms are swung upwardly.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto afiixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

ALBERT N. SHEPLER, Witnesses ELI B. BETZNER, R. J. DAVY. 

